| September 18, 2012 | Volume 08 Issue 35 |
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 | What the heck is a hexa-kaleidocycle?
It's Protogami, a 3-dimensional folding object that showcases the interaction of materials and surface finishes -- an interactive design aid from Proto Labs. Broaden your knowledge of surface finishes, materials and design techniques by requesting one today. You'll learn, you'll be endlessly amused, and you just might be inspired to come up with the next big thing.
Request a Protogami today. |
 | Servometer Sample Request
Servometer's patented electroforming process is especially crafted for tolerance-critical, hollow miniature parts with walls as thin as 0.0003 in. [.008 mm]. Complimentary samples of miniature metal bellows, flexible shaft couplings, and electrical contacts are available to individuals looking to understand the benefits of, and how electrodeposited components can be applied to designs.
Click here to request your samples today! |
2012 Swedish Steel Prize finalists named
Four finalists have been nominated for the award for creating leading designs in high-strength steel. The jury has chosen innovations for light and sustainable train seats, a truck suspension system, a timber transportation vehicle called a "forwarder," and a solution for the packaging and transportation of metallic scrap.
Read the full article. |
 | Mike Likes:
Shapeable LED backlights
Lumex has just launched its QuantumBrite Shapeable LED Backlight, a first-in-the-industry concept that opens the door to a broad new range of LED backlight applications completely customizable in any shape, size, or color on both flat and curved surfaces.
Read the full article. |
 | Expanded line of low-load gaskets
Garlock Sealing Technologies has expanded its line of low-load gaskets with the addition of its 3504 GYLON STRESS SAVER for industrial applications and the 3505 GYLON STRESS SAVER for potable water applications. These gaskets are designed to seal lightweight metallic, plastic, and fiberglass flanges that cannot provide the proper loads required to compress conventional fiber or PTFE gaskets. The molded, raised, concentric ribs allow for a more concentrated gasket load, creating a tighter seal with less torque on both flat and raised face flanges. The gasket material, 100% GYLON PTFE with glass microspheres, provides superior cold-flow and creep resistance, eliminating the need for frequent retorquing. The field-proven Blue GYLON material gives the gaskets chemical resistance and high-temp (-450° to 500° F) and pressure capabilities.
Click here to learn more. |
 | ERD actuator with reverse-parallel motor mount creates compact, flexible package
Tolomatic's ERD electric cylinders are now available with a reverse-parallel motor mount that creates a more compact and flexible package. The new option reduces the length of the Tolomatic ERD actuator while increasing mounting flexibility and motor selection in electric actuator applications. Designed as an alternative to pneumatic cylinders and as an option for automating manual processes, the economical ERD rod-style electric actuator is ideal for product changeovers, pick-and-place, pressing, diverting, heat-staking/sonic welding, and more.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Polymers that can reduce weight, improve reliability
VICTREX 90-Series polymers are widely specified in applications like brackets, clamps, stand-offs, and fasteners for the aerospace industry due to the significant weight savings achieved that increase the fuel economy of the aircraft. Automotive bearings and bushings made from PEEK thermoplastics also help to reduce vehicle weight and have no creep deformation after running at 5,000 rpm continuously for more than 2,000 hr, which improves the overall fuel economy and reliability of the vehicle. In electronics, VICTREX 90-Series grades are used in connectors, capacitors, sensors, bobbins, and switches due to lower outgassing, increased ductility, higher knit line strength, and the ability to withstand the lead-free soldering process, which can reach temperatures up to 280° C (536° F).
Click here to learn more. |
| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | NASA's next rover is chock full of 3D-printed parts
NASA engineers are using 3D printing to build a next-generation, two-person rover to support humans exploring other worlds, such as asteroids and Mars. Designers of the galactic SUV used fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology from Stratasys to create one-off, working prototype parts quickly and efficiently.
View the video. |
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DARPA developing new amphibious transporters for disaster relief
Take a 1/5-scale demonstrator of the Captive Air Amphibious Transporter (CAAT) for a spin. The CAAT has air-filled pontoons on a tank tread-like design, enabling it to carry containers over water and directly onto shore. The vehicle is part of DARPA's Tactically Expandable Maritime Platform (TEMP) program, which seeks new sea and air delivery systems to enable direct support to disaster zones from offshore container ships. All technologies developed under TEMP are transportable using standard 20- or 40-ft commercial shipping containers. This technology demonstrator is jointly funded with the Office of Naval Research, which is looking at it for potential use as an amphibious transport for the Marines/Navy.
View the video. |
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